The government says its ABC review will not affect editorial and programming decisions.

AAP: Tracey Nearmy

The Federal Opposition has criticised the Government's planned efficiency review of the ABC and SBS as politically motivated, with Labor frontbencher Penny Wong saying the Coalition wants to avoid scrutiny.

The Government has described the review, announced last week, as "a routine responsibility... to ensure that the ABC and SBS use public resources as efficiently as possible", and says it will not affect broadcast charters or editorial and programming decisions.

"The objective is to ensure ABC and SBS fulfil their charter responsibilities at least cost to the community, and keep pace with rapidly changing practices in the broadcasting sector," it said in a statement.

"I think the agenda for the review is to seek to find a reason to reduce funding to the ABC, because the Government doesn't like what the ABC does and says," she said.

I think the agenda for the review is to seek to find a reason to reduce funding to the ABC, because the Government doesn't like what the ABC does and says.

Senator Penny Wong

"You only have to look at what Eric Abetz has said, what other senior members of the Coalition have said, what the PM has said.

"This is about a Government that doesn't like scrutiny."

Labor has also questioned the timing of the review, which was announced after Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the ABC unpatriotic for its coverage of the Edward Snowden leaks and asylum seeker abuse claims.

"This is not about finding efficiencies, it's about cutting the ABC's budget," Opposition communications spokesman Jason Clare said last week.

"The Prime Minister gets some bad news and suddenly he starts blaming the media."

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull denies a link, saying the review is not in response to growing criticism within the Government of the broadcaster.